Federal authorities have charged Kurbin Menaugh, 36, and Robert Terry, 44, with drug-related offenses following the unsealing of an indictment earlier this week in Kansas City. The charges were made public after Menaugh was arrested and appeared in court.
According to the indictment, Menaugh and Terry are accused of conspiring to possess at least 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in early September 2021. In addition, Menaugh faces a separate charge for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
If found guilty, both defendants face sentences ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment. Menaugh could also receive an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the firearm offense, which would run consecutively to any other prison term. Sentencing will ultimately be determined by the court based on advisory guidelines and other statutory factors after a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
“The minimum and maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office,” according to information released about the case.
Authorities emphasized that “the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Independence Police Department.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice that aims to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent crime. The operation brings together resources from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
